说了算 (shuō le suàn) — to have the last word, to call the shots

Definition

A colloquial phrase meaning 'to be the one who decides / calls the shots'. Used when describing who has the final authority in a group or matter.

verb

to have the last wordto call the shots

，说了算。
Zài zhè ge gōng sī, lǎo bǎn cái shuō le suàn.
In this company, only the boss has the final say.
说了算？
Zhè jiàn shì yóu shuí shuō le suàn?
Who calls the shots on this matter?
，说了算。
Zuì hòu de jué dìng quán zài shuí shǒu lǐ, shuí jiù shuō le suàn.
Whoever holds the final decision power has the last word.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 說; 说 is its simplified writing.

言兌說

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

兌

兌duì說shuō

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 說 pairs 言 (meaning) with 兌 (sound); the simplified 说 is not the form described here.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

了 was once drawn to show a baby with no arms; some old comments say it showed crossed or tangled legs.

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

竹目廾算

The current form 算 has 竹 on top, 目 in the middle, and 廾 below; the 目 part may have originally drawn counting rods, often made of bamboo.

Appears in